Experimental dosimetry and beam evaluation in a phantom for near lithium threshold accelerator based BNCT

Journal Article · Thu Jun 10 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.59307· OSTI ID:21205530

Kudchadker, R J; Harmon, F ^[1]; Lee, C L ^[2]; Harker, Y D ^[3]

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1. Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho 83209 (United States)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
3. Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415 (United States)

Current accelerator-based neutron source concepts for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) are centered on the lithium (p,n) reaction. The near lithium threshold source concept uses proton energies < or approx. 100 keV above the reaction threshold energy (1.88 MeV). For deeply seated brain tumors, epithermal (1 eV to 10 keV) neutrons are needed to penetrate the skull cap and subsequently thermalize at the tumor location. All BNCT neutron sources inherently have thermal, fast neutron and gamma-ray contamination. In order to quantify the thermal neutron component, a cylindrical acrylic head phantom has been constructed to simulate the patient's head and neck. BF{sub 3} proportional counters have been used to determine the thermal neutron flux (boron dose). The thermal neutron flux component has been compared with Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code calculations. Our results indicate a good comparison between the MCNP code calculations and the benchmark experiments performed. The results also indicate that the near threshold neutron concept is competitive with other BNCT neutron sources.

• OSTI ID: 21205530
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 475; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ACCELERATORS
BEAM PRODUCTION
BORON
BORON FLUORIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FAST NEUTRONS
KEV RANGE
LITHIUM 7 TARGET
MEV RANGE
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON SOURCES
PHANTOMS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
PROTON REACTIONS
THERMAL NEUTRONS